Statement of Scope
Accounting Examining Board
Relating to: | Education required for examination and certification |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
A new class of graduates and candidates is completing educational requirements in 2017 to fulfill requirements of existing bachelor or masters programs currently offered in colleges and universities, and would not be eligible to take the CPA examination or be certified and licensed in Wisconsin as a CPA.
An expeditious promulgation of this rule is in the best interest of Wisconsin’s economy and public welfare, as this will prevent some individuals from having to take additional coursework to meet the educational requirements to take the CPA examination and be certified and licensed in Wisconsin as a CPA.
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
The Accounting Examining Board will update ch. Accy 2 to provide that, prior to the promulgation of the permanent rule, a candidate may qualify to take the certified public accountant examination and be certified in Wisconsin as a CPA under either the educational requirements in effect on May 31, 2016 or as revised by these emergency rules. 3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
Chapter Accy 2 contains the educational requirements for candidates for the certified public accountant (CPA) examination and Wisconsin certification as a CPA. If the rules are not updated, some qualified candidates will not meet the educational requirements to take the CPA examination or be certified in Wisconsin as a CPA. 4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats., provides examining boards “shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains. . .” Section 442.04 (5) (b) 3., Stats., provides the Board may not grant a certificate as a certified public accountant to any person other than a person who “has completed at least 150 semester hours of education at an institution that include course work in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board, and has received a bachelor's or higher degree.” Section 442.04 (5) (b) 4., Stats., provides a person is not eligible to take the CPA examination “unless the person has completed at least 120 semester hours of education at an institution that include course work in accounting and business subjects, as determined by the examining board.” 5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
State employees will spend approximately 80 hours developing the proposed rule.
6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:
Candidates for the CPA examination and Wisconsin certification as a CPA.
7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
None.
8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):
The proposed rule will have minimal to no economic impact on small businesses and the state’s economy as a whole.
Approved for publication: Approved for implementation:
Authorized Signature Authorized Signature
Date Approved Date Approved
